Iron man

Happiness is having a husband who doesn't mind ironing his own clothes.
Happiness is having time to iron, so your extra sleepy husband doesn't have to do it at 5:00 in the morning.
Happiness is going down stairs to do laundry, even though it wasn't on the to do list.
Happiness is taking pictures of Natalia, while she models an ironing board.

So far this week...I have organized the girls' closet. No more "too big" or "too small" taking up valuable space. I should take a picture of that, it looks wonderful. Tomorrow I am going to do all the ironing. =)

eta....

NO, no ironing tomorrow.

The picture of the little girl under the tree was selected as Judge's Choice. I am so very happy. I have to go to a meet and greet type thing for the winners tomorrow. There is going to be a People's Choice ballot during the first four weeks of the exhibit. Look for my photographs and vote if you like them!!! =)

On the move..

Yesterday was another emotionally exhausting day. I tried an outfit on Simone, it was too big. I took it off, and as I was putting it back in the closet she was whining on the changing table. It is not really a table, it is a changing dresser. I was still standing in front of the dresser, but leaning over the corner reaching into the closet. I looked down to see Simone hanging OFF the dresser. She was on her way to the ground head first. I slammed my hand down on to her hips and caught her against the corner of the dresser. I can not believe she didn't fall. I CAN NOT believe she didn't fall. She was digging her heels down and pushing back, and very quickly- I just didn't notice. I held her and cried. I was a mess the rest of the day....like an emotional zombie. I just held my kids and did nothing. I told Lincoln and he said, "Why aren't you happy? You CAUGHT her." I guess that is looking on the bright side. She is now at the age where I will have to strap her in if I set her down anywhere.

Isn't she pretty? I love her smiles.

Wyatt and Cy. Wyatt is getting so big lately. Everytime he walks in the room I say, "Who are you? Get out of here. Go get my little boy Wyatt and send him in here." He laughs and I always get a hug.

After a Sunday nap.

Natalia loves to hold her. She does it very well....and so often.

Ten Years Today

Happy Anniversary! We have been married TEN years, and it has flown by.

During my primary meeting in the morning my phone rang. We had a rushed morning, so I thought it was Lincoln calling to wish me a Happy Anniversary. It was Lincoln, but he was calling for a different reason.

Lincoln was hit on the freeway by a BMW today. He is okay, the car isn't bad. It was the company car so they are taking care of it. I am worried about his back, because last time he was really hurt. I hope he doesn't have to go through all that pain again. So far he feels just fine.

This accident got me thinking. I didn't kiss him goodbye today. He needed help moving cars to get his out of the driveway. I was still in my pajamas holding a baby, and I needed to jump in the shower or I would be late (later, I should say). He moved all three cars by himself, and took the trash to the curb.

Oh, what if that was our last morning? My heart hurts just to think about it. I am so grateful that I have tomorrow, and the next day and the next day to try to do better. I want him to know I am grateful, and happy, and so in love with him. We worry about dumb things, and if our lives were shortened, those dumb things wouldn't matter. The trash, the long grass, the socks under the couch....WHO CARES?! Can you imagine finding a dusty sock of a loving husband who left this earth too quickly? I am glad he is okay, and maybe my thoughts are getting ahead of myself. I just wanted to remind myself to enjoy the little things, to find a little bliss moments everyday, and to give Lincoln a kiss before he goes to work.

untitled.

"Small"

"Wedded Bliss"

"Granddaughter"

Above are the three photos I chose to enter for the Monuments of Faith photography exhibit. I had the hardest time coming up with titles this year. I am not good with words...that is why I am a photographer. I got to take a peek at some of the other entries and it looks like it will be a very nice exhibit this year. I was in the visitor's center for 10 minutes, and during that time I saw FOUR people from my ward dropping off photographs. How exciting is that!?

I have started doing photo sessions again. I love my job! I don't like to be away from Simone if I have to travel very far, but so far I have been lucky and my sessions have been in Columbia. Here is one of my favorites from last Saturday's session. The girl on the right is the same little girl that is sitting under the tree at the top of this post! =) We have so much fun together. I have photographed her since she was 4 months old.


Lincoln and I got to go on two dates this weekend. Simone was horrible each time. I spent more time walking around the restaurants than eating. At one restaurant there was a boutique next door, so I went shopping on our date and Lincoln didn't even know it! =) I didn't buy anything...who pays $216 for a top?!!

Wyatt and Talia are doing well. We started a new Book of Mormon reading chart and they are really excited about it. I have them take turns coloring in the chapters. The person who gets to color the next chapter usually reminds us to read.

Tiny...

We spent the day at Larriland farms. Picking blueberries, and taking pictures. I didn't take one picture of a person! That is so not like me, but I did have fun with my macro. Once while Simone took a $5 nap (she was in the van while it was running), and once while Christie juggled my crying baby and her whining two year old. Her baby wanted to either hold the baby or be held, I am not sure. =) (Thanks Christie!) We had a funny lunch, because the main part was blueberry shortcake. Oh well, no one complained of being hungry!



I was putting the kids to bed and I said, "If you guys go to bed and stay in your beds, we will have had a PERFECT day." There was no fighting, no whining, swimming lessons was a breeze...it was just a really good day. Simone did scream her head off of the way home from Larriland but that doesn't count against our good day.
The dragonflies were everywhere, but there were so quick! I always manually focus my macro, and I would never have enough time to focus. They would not stay still very long. This blue one hung on for a long time, and the brown one above was there for .5 seconds. I CAN'T believe I got a picture of him- and he is so SHARP! =)







Simone had a doctors appointment. She weighs 10 lbs. 14 oz., and is 22.75 inches long. She is in the 5th and 10th percentile for her weight and height. This is so strange to me....Wyatt was always in the 95th percentile and Natalia was always in the 85th. Simone is growing and doing well-just on the other side of the chart! I have to admit it has been fun to have a tiny baby. She still fits in her newborn/0-3 month size clothes. She is a champion sleeper at night. Her longest stretch is from 8-1 or 2, and then I nurse her and she sleeps until 7. Our days are getting better too.

I didn't blog about our first swimming lesson, I was most likely trying to block it from my memory forever. I don't want to type it out....here's the short version.

Talia in class
Wyatt waiting, and whining.
Talia going down the slide at the end of class with no one to catch her.
Talia sinking and sputtering.
Me screaming with baby in arms.
Talia out, shocked, fine.
Talia "I NEED TO GO POTTY"
Baby screaming
Wyatt's class starting
Wipe a bum, and pull up rubbery wet suit while holding screaming baby.
Talia crying, "I want to go back to my class"
"Your class is over honey."
More crying...both Talia and Simone.
Simone asleep.

Doesn't that sound fun?

They are doing so well now. Wyatt is loves holding his breath under water, and he makes me count how long he stays under. I just remembered the first time we took Wyatt swimming (he was probably 1 and half years old). It was SO funny. He was absolutely terrified of the water. Lincoln jumped off the diving board to show him that the water was fun. Wyatt screamed with such terror, he thought his dad was gone forever. Lincoln did what any good Dad would do, he jumped off the diving board again so we could all laugh when Wyatt screamed. =) It took him a long time to get comfortable in the water, so when I see him hold his breath and go under and I am so proud! =)

Talia is doing well too, but mostly she just looks cute in her new swimming suit! =)

Remember

What do you remember about me?

Ok, I'll do this tag from Cami. (Be nice.)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

4 months....

Four months old today. We had to take a picture to celebrate! We love you Simone!

(if you don't already know this...click on the image to see it uncompressed.)

Share....

An online magazine did an article about the photo exhibit at the Temple Visitors Center, and spotlighted the winners from last year. I don't like what I said about myself or about each photograph....it is a good thing I like my photographs.


click here to read the article.

Lincoln took my head shot, didn't he do a good job?! =)

simple

I took this on May 2nd. I had a dandelion sunrise.....may be this is the sunset.

We had a busy week.

*The kids and I went back to the beach. I got a migraine headache, and tried to sleep it off when we got home. I woke up at 6:00, and Lincoln had made us dinner. Smmoooch.

*We went to the lake by our house twice. Simone slept in the baby bjorn. We saw turtles, baby mud swallows being fed by their parents, tiny fish, flying geese, butterflies, we tried to get as close as possible to the robins on the grass, listened to the wind, collected sticks (Wyatt's favorite thing), watched squirrels jumping in the trees, and came home and ate Popsicles. I love summer, and I wish we went to the lake more often.

*There was a concert at Centennial Park for kids one evening. We went with Christie's fam, and Christina's kids. We had a picnic dinner, and listened to a silly man sing silly/naughty songs. "Don't put your finger in your nose" was my fav, and now will be a Tidwell family song forever!

*We had a good Forth of July. We spent the day with our friends the Merrells. It was the most peaceful day. Our kids get along so well! Amanda, who is Wyatt's age, plays with dinosaurs with Wyatt, taught him how to catch a frog, and even tackled him to the ground a few times. For those of you who don't know Amanda, she had a rare bone cancer in her leg when she was two, and had to have her leg amputated. She is such an amazing little girl. It is so nice to be in their home, it just overflows with gratitude and happiness.

Here is a conversation I overheard between them.

Wyatt-How old are you?
Amanda- I am six.
Wyatt- ME TOO!
Amanda- Ya, but you are taller than me.
Wyatt- It's true. Are you six and a half or just six?
Amanda- Just six.
--Then they both sat there puzzled, because how can they be the same age, but not the same height.

Saturday- I went shopping. I had two hours before the mall closed, so I ran around like a mad woman and bought stuff! It was so fun. I got $118 jeans for $24! I am so good, and I want to go back....someone hide my credit card! =)

A quick update on Simone....I think the Zantac is working. We had a GREAT week. She is growing up too fast for me.

Black and white photo post.

Sweet smile.

Look at her! She thinks she is so big.

"Go take a shower, I'll watch the kids."

What a sweet husband. =)